The good servant… (10 points)

• 1^st – The need to LEAD… vs. 11
  • Having given the command to DEFEND the faith in these LAST DAYS…
    • Paul continues by giving 10 personal commands for HOW to LIVE in these LAST DAYS…
    • All of these commands are in the PRESENT / IMPERATIVE – daily commands!
  • 1^st – These things I COMMAND (present / imperative) …
    • COMMAND – parangellō – from an angel / messenger…
      • These are NOT the COMMANDS of Paul – these are COMMANDS from God!
      • A large ship can have hundreds of people working on it…
      • From engineers to the cleaning crew – everyone with their own purpose / job…
      • But in order for everything to work – someone needs to lead them…
      • The captain is the one who gives the commands – he has the big picture…
      • He knows where the boat is going – he is the one directing the ship…
      • He cannot do it all – but he knows what everyone should be doing!
    • A church needs a leader to steer the ship…
      • Someone who has the big picture – knows where the church is going…
      • Someone to COMMAND so everyone knows what to do doing / get the job done!
      • One man cannot do it all – but he can direct others – so they all work together!
  • 2^nd – Knowing where the church is going…
    • If I asked you to get onto a boat – your first question – where are you going!
    • If I did not know the answer – chances are you would not get on…
    • But if I told you we were going to Sipalay to enjoy a day at the beach – hop onboard!
    • A lot of Pastors do not know where their church is going – they are lost…
    • The result is people are not very eager or excited to come to church…
    • People get excited about church – when the Pastor KNOWS where he is going!

• 2^nd – The need to TEACH… vs. 11
  • 1^st – These things I TEACH (present / imperative) …
    • TEACH – didaskō – in context speaking of teaching the Word of God…
    • Because through the teaching of the Word – we are saved – Romans 10:17
    • All of our sins are wiped away – our hearts are made pure / clean – I John 1:9
    • The Word of God is what corrects / teaches us so that we can grow – II Timothy 3:16
  • 2^nd – Nothing else has the power of the Word…
    • Unfortunately a lot of pastors miss this – and teach their ideas…
    • But since their ideas have no power – those who listen are not changed!
    • Too many pastors today spend too little time expounding / teaching the Word…
    • Instead they tell funny stories to entertain – sprinkled with the occasional Bible verse…
    • Because they do not want to offend people – yet the Bible is offensive!
    • It is not our words / or funny stories – people need to hear…
    • They need to know about the dangers of hell – and the reward of heaven…
    • About the coming judgment of God – and the amazing hope of Jesus!
    • But they do not know these things – because they do not know the Word!
    • The biggest problem in the church today – there is a famine in the Land!
    • Amos 8:11 – “Not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

• 3^rd – Do not DESPISE… vs. 12
  • 1^st – Let no one DESPISE (present / imperative) your YOUTH…
    • DESPISE – to think less of / or look down upon…
    • Paul told Timothy not to let anyone think less of him because he was YOUNG…
    • Apparently when Paul wrote the letter – Timothy was still a YOUNG – under 40!
    • We are never too OLD or YOUNG for the Lord to use you – just be available!
    • God is not limited to using a certain age – He can use the YOUNG and the OLD alike!
    • Moses and Aaron were in the 80s when God called them into the ministry!
  • 2^nd – Older people in the church were questioning Timothy because of his youth!
    • When I was first ordained as a Pastor – I was only about 27 years old…
    • Many times I struggled because I was teaching / leading people older than I was…
    • In fact I refused to tell people my age – because it caused so many problems!
    • A young leader is questioned because people assume – he has no wisdom…
    • But we do not share OUR wisdom with others – we share the WIDSDOM of the Word…
    • And the Word of God is a WHOLE LOT older / wiser than anyone we are teaching!
  • 3^rd – Timothy was NOT young in the FAITH…
    • Had been all over the world with Paul – he was well established in ministry!
    • An 80 year old person who has just gotten saved – is a baby in Jesus…
    • But a young man who has been walking with God his whole life – could be an elder!
    • Just because someone is old – does not mean they are more mature in Christ…
    • They question is how long they have been walking with Jesus…
    • And more than that – how much have they grown in Jesus over those years!

• 4^th – Be an EXAMPLE… vs. 12
  • Christians need to be (present / imperative) a good EXAMPLE…
    • EXAMPLE – typos – could also be interpreted impression or impact…
      • Never underestimate the power of EXAMPLE – we are constantly being influenced!
      • Why do we think one style of clothing is better than another…
      • There is GREAT power in EXAMPLE – it molds and shapes how we view the world!
      • The EXAMPLE of the people we choose to surround ourselves with influence us!
      • They will by their example either stir us up to give ourselves to the Lord…
      • Or they can be a distraction – keep us from following after the Lord!
    • Timothy was to have an IMPACT on those he was ministering to through his EXAMPLE!
      • We should not just be telling others what to do – but show them as well…
      • So in everything we should seek to imitate Jesus – I Corinthians 11:1
      • A role model – example – of what following Jesus looks like…
      • That way when people follow us – they will by default be following Jesus!
    • Our example is not just when people are looking…
      • If I make sure I only have a good example when others are around…
      • But then when I am alone – I allow myself to indulge in sin…
      • Eventually those sins are going to come out in my life…
      • The true test of a character is not what we do when people are watching…
      • It is what we do when no one is looking – that is who we really are!

• 1^st – Paul gave 6 ways for Timothy to be an EXAMPLE…
  • WORD – logos – be an EXAMPLE in what we say…
  • Sometimes we speak – without being careful of who is listening to us…
  • It is easy to let words come out of our mouth – impossible to take them back!
  • Time will heal many kinds of wounds – but words leave wounds that last a lifetime…
  • We need to be careful of our words – careful who is listening to what we say!
  • James 3:3 – “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.”
• 2^nd – CONDUCT – anastrophe 13x NT – speaks of our ACTIONS…
  • We can teach people it is wrong to get drunk – or that you should not lie…
  • But if we go out and get drunk – and then get caught lying about it!
  • We can have all the right words – but if our actions do not line up with our words…
  • No one is going to want to listen – we no longer have a good example!
• 3^rd – LOVE – agape – there are four words in GREEK that are translated as LOVE…
  • Eros – sexual love – the only one of the loves never mentioned in the Bible…
  • Storge – family love – Romans 12:10 – the love of a sibling / parent / relative…
  • Phileo – brotherly love / friendship – used 25 times in NT
  • Agape – perfect love – perfect love – used over 200 times in NT!
  • On any given Sunday – we might ask how someone is doing – but do we really care…
  • We might ask because we feel we have to – but there is no SINCERE LOVE!
  • People can tell if you really care – or are just going through the motions…
  • People will not care what you say – until they are sure that you care!
• 4^th – SPIRIT – pneuma (wind) – from the root word meaning wind or air…
  • SPIRIT – 385x in NT – a word that can mean either our SPIRIT or the SPIRIT of God…
  • No definite article – THE – in front of SPIRIT – suggesting it is not referring to God!
  • We are all made up of 3 parts – Spirit / mind / and body…
  • Spirit – the only part of us that is eternal / Body – the flesh – the physical body we live in…
  • Mind – where we make our choices and decisions – influenced by the Spirit or the flesh!
  • Our minds are literally a battleground for the control of our actions…
  • We are to be an EXAMPLE and walk in the SPIRIT – not give into the desires of our FLESH!
  • Galatians 5:16 – “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
• 5^th – FAITH – pistis – pistis – 244x in NT – the idea of TRUST or CONFIDENCE…
  • We know the JUST shall live by faith – Habakkuk 2:4 / Romans 1:17 / Galatians 3:11
    • Being an EXAMPLE of FAITH – means TRUSTING the Lord for today!
    • So often it feels like we are walking through life blind – no idea where we are going…
    • The reason is because we are trusting in what we can see – but we cannot see far…
    • If only we could see tomorrow – we might make very different decisions…
    • Making decisions by what we can see – is in truth walking around blind…
    • But Jesus sees it all – and if are willing to trust Him – we will always know where to go…
    • Trusting in the Lord who sees all – that is walking by true sight – waking by FAITH!
  • Being an EXAMPLE of FAITH – means trusting the Lord for our eternity!
    • We cannot see God – have never been to heaven – have not seen Jesus…
    • It is only through FAITH we believe the Gospel is true – has the power to save us…
    • By FAITH we believe that life is not only about living here on earth…
    • By FAITH we believe one day God will take us to be with Him forever in heaven!
    • Hebrews 11:1 – “FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
• 6^th – PURITY – hagneia – from the root word HAGIOS – to be HOLY…
  • We are to be set apart for God – in ALL of our conduct – everything we do!
  • It is written – Be Holy because I am Holy – Leviticus 19:2
  • Because if we as Christians look and act just like those who do not know Jesus…
  • Why would anyone want to hear about Jesus – come to church…
  • God calls us to be Holy – we are called to be saints [same root word] …
  • We are called to be an EXAMPLE – that means we are set apart from the world for God!
  • The NT word for church – ekklesia – mean to be called out – of the world…
  • It is only as we are HOLY – that we are able and EXAMPLE of others for Christ!

• 5^th – FOCUS on the Word… vs. 13
  • Till I come give ATTENTION (present / impetrative) …
    • ATTENTION – prosechō – to pay special attention to – even be addicted to!
    • 3 things Paul COMMANDED Timothy to FOCUS on CONSTANTLY – OIA Bible Study!
  • 1^st – READING – anagnōsis – to gain understanding by READING…
    • We need to FOCUS on reading the Word of God…
    • That is why we always take the time to read the passage before we teach it…
    • A pastor should read the word over and over to the church!
    • Too many pastors tend to quote the words of men – rather then read the Word of God…
    • God does not promise to bless the words of men – He says His Word is powerful!
  • 2^nd – DOCTRINE – didaskalia – a teaching or instruction – we would say Bible Study…
    • We need to FOCUS on the interpretation of the Word…
    • Reading the Word is good – but a pastor should also interpret the Word…
    • If I just read – I Timothy 4:11-16 – then we all went home…
    • It would be a short Bible study – and you would likely not get much out of it!
    • A pastor needs to interpret the Bible – explain what it means!
  • 3^rd – EXHORTATION – paraklēsis – noun form of the verb parakaleō – to come along side!
    • We need to FOCUS on application / encouragement…
    • Interpreting the Word is good – but a Pastor should also apply the Word!
    • If I just read and interpreted the Bible – but there was no application…
    • We might understand what the Word taught – but not how to apply it to our life!
    • A pastor needs to apply the Bible to the lives of the people – make it practical!

• 6^th – Use the GIFT… vs. 14
  • 1^st – Do not NEGLECT (present / imperative) …
    • We are not sure what GIFT Timothy was neglecting – perhaps evangelism…
    • II Timothy 4:5 – “Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
    • For whatever reason – he was not allowing God to use him to his full potential!
    • If we think God has given us a particular gift – we should step out and try to use it…
    • If God has given us a desire to worship – then pick up a guitar…
    • If God has given us a desire to teach – then pick up a Bible…
    • Do not neglect the gift God has given to us – use it to be a blessing to the Lord!
    • I Peter 4:10 – “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
  • 2^nd – The GIFT – Charisma – where we get the name Charismatic…
    • Speaking of the supernatural GIFTS that God gives to believers in the church…
      • It comes from the root word – Charis – meaning GIFT or grace…
      • The idea being the GIFT are not earned – they cannot be purchased – Acts 8:20
      • A total of 23 gifts listed in the NT – Romans 12 / I Corinthians 12 / Ephesians 4
      • Including the gifts of healing / miracles / teaching / evangelism / wisdom / faith!
    • There are those who say no – the GIFTS of the Spirit were only for the first church…
      • Because the Word of God was not complete – God gave the gifts to validate the church…
      • I Corinthians 13:9-10 – they argue that which is PERFECT is the Word…
      • And now that we have the perfect Word (NT) – we no longer have need for the gifts…
      • But according to Acts 2:38-39 – the gift of the Spirit is for every generation!
  • 3^rd – Given (aorist / passive) to you…
    • Timothy did not choose the GIFT he had – it was given (passive) to him…
      • All believers who are filled with the Spirit have at least one gift…
      • We do not decide what gifts we receive – the Holy Spirit gives them to us…
      • We are not defined by our gift – I am a prophet or I am a healer…
      • The Holy Spirit can give us any or all of the gifts as the need arise!
      • I Corinthians 12:11 – “The same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills…”
    • Paul lists 2 ways the GIFT was confirmed in the life of young Timothy…
      • PROPHECY – a word given through divine inspiration…
      • LAYING on of hand by the ELDERSHIP – we would say the pastors of the church…
      • The idea is they RECOGNIZED the GIFT – by LAYING their hands on Timothy!
      • We see this same model in – Acts 6:6 / Acts 8:7 / Acts 13:3 / Acts 19:6
      • If we are not sure of our calling – step out and try different things…
      • If it does not work – if there is no fruit – no problem just try something else!
      • When we are doing what God has called us to do everyone will notice – it will be obvious!

• 7^th – MEDITATE on these things… vs. 15
  • MEDITATE (present / imperative) – to care about – or to think a LOT about…
  • Timothy was to think DAILY about – LEADING / TEACHING / EXAMPLE / FOCUS / GIFT!
  • Being a Christian is not a part time job – it is something we should be committed to…
  • Not that we cannot have a regular job / or that we should neglect our families…
  • But it means we do not take the responsibility lightly – we are serious about serving!

• 8^th – GIVE yourself to these things… vs. 15
  • GIVE (present / imperative) himself ENTIRELY to them!
  • That his PROGRESS may be (subjunctive) EVIDENT to all…
  • EVIDENT – phaneros – from the root word meaning light (phos) …
  • Often – we want to see the good fruit from our efforts right now!
  • When the fruit does not come – we get tired – assuming nothing will ever happen…
  • But as we are DEDICATED – in time our PROGRESS (growth) will come into the LIGHT!
  • Galatians 6:9 – “Do not get tired of doing what is good. Do not get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.”

• 9^th – Be careful… vs. 16
  • 1^st – Take HEED (present / imperative) to YOURSELF…
    • HEED – to put in check – to keep from going out of control…
    • As a believer in Jesus – we are forgiven – but that does not mean we cannot still sin…
    • Our spirit has been reborn – but we are still dwell in our fallen sinful bodies!
    • If we give into sin – we harden towards God – we stumble in the race!
    • Romans 6:12 – “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
  • 2^nd – Take HEED (present / imperative) to DOCTRINE…
    • The only thing that sin does well – is separate us from God…
    • The best way to avoid sin – the best way to find victory in life – read our Bible…
    • The Bible will keep us from sin – sin will keep us from the Bible!
    • Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart… I might not sin against You!”

And for the POWER to be able to impact the lives of others!

10^th – CONTINUE to abide… vs. 16

1^st – CONTINUE – (present / imperative) in them…

CONTINUE – epimenō – from the root word to ABIDE!

CONTINUE in DOCTINRE – we would say the Word of God – Jesus – John 1:1

2^nd – We will SAVE ourselves…

If we CONTINUE / ABIDE in JESUS – we will be SAVED – (future / indicative) … 

Not just us – we will ALSO save those who HEAR us – HEAR the Word coming from us!

John 15:4 – we are told that apart from Jesus we can do nothing!

We must abide – meno – in Him in order for us to be able to have ANY fruit!

Abide is one of those funny Biblical words – we never use it in our daily speech…

It would be better interpreted endure / or stubbornly refuse to let go!

The final command is to ALWAYS / DAILY cling to Jesus – both for our salvation…